Brits want growth and back less red tape, cheaper energy and lower taxes to get it, finds landmark IEA research

 

Brits want growth and back less red tape, cheaper energy and lower taxes to get it, finds landmark IEA research  Most Britons (87%) want the UK to focus more on economic growth, and would back free market reforms to deliver it, including: reducing energy costs (77%), cutting taxes on workers (72%) and businesses (66%), and easing planning restrictions (59%)  Two-thirds (67%) think Britain is going in the wrong direction and rate the economy as poor (65%), with agreement for both market-orientated and state-orientated explanations for the UK's stagnation  However, people still overestimate Britain’s incomes when compared internationally, placing it 7th among US states when it really ranks last – behind all 50 states  There is confusion about what GDP growth means and scepticism about who will really benefit, with more likely to say ‘the government’ (81%) than ‘me personally’ (52%)  Communicating how far Britain has fallen internationally, and explaining how growth can benefit individuals and their families, creates a powerful platform for pro-growth reform  Landmark new public opinion research published by the Institute of Economic Affairs has found that the British public overwhelmingly supports economic growth. Eighty-seven per cent say the country should focus more on growth, with just 9% saying the country is already wealthy enough. This consensus holds across all age groups, income levels, regions, and political affiliations - demonstrating a lack of appetite for “degrowth” narratives among the public.  After an average growth of just 1.5% since 2008, Brits are extremely pessimistic about the state of the UK economy. Two-thirds think Britain is going in the wrong direction and rate the economy as poor, while two-fifths don’t think Britain’s economy has any major strengths. One respondent asked “Why is everything getting more expensive when my pay isn’t going up?”.  The new polling and focus groups, conducted by Freshwater Strategy for the IEA, is one of the largest and most comprehensive research projects on British attitudes to economic growth. It found strong support for many market-led explanations of Britain’s lack of growth, including high energy costs (85%), high taxes (75%), trade barriers (74%), too much red tape (74%), employment laws (64%) and strict planning laws (55%).   But there is also agreement among voters on alternative explanations, such as wages being too low (78%), lack of investment in public services (77%), companies prioritising profit (73%) and the political system being rigged in favour of the wealthy (72%).  To fix the problem, there is strong underlying support for market-oriented reform, including reducing energy costs (77%), cutting taxes on workers (72%), and 66% support cutting taxes on businesses.   However, the study found that understanding of growth is weak and people are sceptical about who will benefit. When asked what GDP growth means, one-third (32%) of respondents said they were unsure or did not know, and more thought that the government and big business were likely to benefit from growth than they or their families would. One young respondent said “I don’t think I’ve ever seen real economic growth to know what it actually feels like or looks like”.  There is also a striking gap between perception and reality when comparing the UK internationally. A majority of Brits wrongly believe that the average person in the UK is as rich, or richer, than those in Singapore, Germany, Australia, and much of Western Europe, when the opposite is true.  Britons place the UK 7th among US states, on average, in terms of GDP per capita, believing it is richer than 43 of them. In reality, the UK ranks last, behind every single US state. When told this, 27% of respondents said they felt shocked, with a further 15% expressing disappointment or embarrassment. Focus group participants similarly responded with anger and frustration - “it suggests that there needs to be change in the UK because we can’t be fifty-first, there’s no way” said one focus group participant.   The research highlights that when growth is linked to tangible personal benefits – higher wages, lower bills, more homes, better public services – support for pro-growth policies strengthens further.  The research also found:  When faced with a direct choice, 57% of Britons say economic growth should be prioritised even if it means accepting some environmental harm, and 78% want energy kept affordable even if it slows progress towards Net Zero — just 19% would prioritise reaching Net Zero if it means higher energy bills  Voters massively overestimate business profit margins, believing energy companies earn 57%, supermarkets 50%, and water companies 51% — fuelling the perception that corporations are extractive rather than operating on tight margins  Young voters who expressed some sympathy for "socialism" in focus groups in theory, but in practice wanted lower personal taxes, less government waste, the freedom to start businesses, and the ability to get on the housing ladder  Labour voters are significantly more likely to rate the economy positively (46% "good") than Conservative voters (12%), Reform voters (10%), or the public as a whole (18%)  80% of Britons consider it important that it is easier to start and grow a business in the UK  The report identifies six distinct "growth segments" of the British public:   Affluent Progressives (32%), who are the most pro-growth and willing to accept trade-offs  Squeezed Sceptics (22%), who back growth but demand evidence that it will benefit them personally  Uncertain Renters (17%), who are open to growth but uncertain and wary of sacrificing employment protections  Comfortable Retirees (16%), who support growth primarily to sustain public services and stability  Aggrieved Left Behind (7%), who are strongly pro-growth and anti-state but deeply disillusioned  Precarious Populists (6%), the most sceptical group, who will only support growth if it visibly lowers the cost of living  Younger Reform voters were the most open to pro-growth trade-offs in focus groups, supporting cuts to business taxes, reduced workplace regulation and lower public spending — while young women were the least willing, particularly on environmental protections and workplace rights  The report concludes that the case for growth must be practical, rather than abstract. Voters will support far-reaching reform, but only when they can see how it improves their lives, and when they are shown that state intervention – not market forces – is responsible for Britain’s stagnation.  This project was made possible through the support of grant [#63661] from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.    The Rt Hon Lord Frost, Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "Britain's economy has barely grown per head in nearly two decades. This research makes clear that the public knows something is deeply wrong — and they feel it. People overwhelmingly want growth, and they are ready if necessary to back the reforms to get it: lower taxes, cheaper energy, less red tape. The obstacle to growth isn't public opinion. It is a political class that refuses to act. "Our work shows that there are votes to be won by being unapologetically pro-growth. The main risk is people's scepticism that they will be the ones to benefit. Politicians have talked up growth for years, but people haven't felt it. Our political leaders need to stand up and communicate how growth will benefit everyday families, then back the reform necessary to deliver it. To the victor will go the electoral spoils." Dr Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs said:  "Britain is barely any richer today than it was 18 years ago. Compared to the previous century and a half or so of British economic history, this period constitutes an anomaly. The lack of economic progress should be the No. 1 public policy issue of our time: the issue that keeps policymakers and opinion formers from across the ideological spectrum awake at night.   “This landmark study shows that while political discourse in Britain may not always reflect it, Britain is clearly not a country that is comfortable with economic stagnation and relative decline. We still have the social expectations associated with a growing economy. What we do not have is the economic performance to match those expectations."  Matthew Lesh, Country Manager at Freshwater Strategy and Public Policy Fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs said:  “A nation in economic stagnation isn’t just some statistical artefact. It’s colouring every day. Across our focus groups, we heard the same story again and again: rising costs, stagnant wages, and a sense that the system is no longer delivering. When economic growth disappears, so too does the feeling of progress. In its place comes frustration, pessimism, and a growing loss of faith in institutions.   “But this research has not found a country that has given up on growth. The overwhelming majority of Britons want the economy to grow, and when growth is linked to real, tangible outcomes, such as higher wages, lower bills, and more affordable homes, support becomes near universal. The problem is that, after many false promises, people no longer trust that growth will benefit them. Rebuilding that link between economic growth and everyday life is now the central challenge for policymakers, and the key to delivering pro-growth policies that restore prosperity and public confidence.”

ENDS

RMT 0200: Weather Radar in Mato Grosso Strengthens Brazil’s National Airspace Surveillance Network

 

RMT 0200: Weather Radar in Mato Grosso Strengthens Brazil’s National Airspace Surveillance Network

Brazil’s airspace monitoring network received a new boost this Wednesday (8) with the delivery of the RMT 0200 weather radar in Chapada dos Guimarães (MT).

The equipment is the fourth of a total of five units planned under a contract between IACIT, a Brazilian company specializing in solutions for defense, security, and air traffic control, and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), through the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA).

The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Director-General of DECEA, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Sérgio Rodrigues Pereira Bastos Junior, and was attended by IACIT’s CEO, Luiz Teixeira.

With this new delivery, the system expands meteorological coverage in a strategic area of the national territory, strengthening atmospheric monitoring capabilities and support for air operations, especially in regions subject to climate instability.

The RMT 0200 will be integrated into SISMET (Meteorology System), a platform operated by DECEA through CIMAER (Integrated Aeronautical Meteorology Center), responsible for meteorological supervision of interest to the Brazilian Air Force. This integration allows the generated data to be incorporated into a national network dedicated to meteorological surveillance, with a direct impact on the safety, efficiency, and planning of air operations.

The Director-General of DECEA, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Sérgio Rodrigues Pereira Bastos Junior, highlighted the importance of expanding meteorological monitoring capacity:

“It is a pleasure to be present at this event, which is essential for the safety of air navigation, particularly in activities related to meteorology. This is the result of many years of partnership with IACIT, a company from our Defense Industrial Base, and having a cutting-edge piece of equipment like the RMT 0200.”

First Lieutenant Meteorology Specialist Alan Descartes Tobias Tafuri, head of the Meteorological Radar Section at CIMAER, added:

“This radar is very important because, like the others already installed in Rio Branco and Vilhena, it will cover areas that still lack coverage, strengthening and making our network more robust.”

Technology

 Developed and manufactured in Brazil, the RMT 0200 operates in the S-band (2.7 to 2.9 GHz) and has a range of up to 400 kilometers, allowing real-time monitoring of different meteorological phenomena. The system operates with dual polarization, enabling it to identify and classify atmospheric events according to their intensity and severity, from light formations to more intense storms.

The radar uses solid-state technology, ensuring greater operational reliability, reduced energy consumption, and lower maintenance requirements.

For Luiz Teixeira, CEO of IACIT, the delivery in Chapada dos Guimarães represents another step forward in consolidating national capabilities in critical technologies:

“The evolution of this radar network reflects a continuous effort in technological development in the country. The RMT 0200 is the result of national engineering and incorporates a technology mastered by only a few countries, essential for expanding monitoring and decision-making capabilities.”

Coverage

The contract also includes the installation of one more radar in Cachimbo (PA). With systems already delivered in Belém (PA), Rio Branco (AC), Vilhena (RO), and Chapada dos Guimarães (MT), the initiative advances the expansion of network coverage and the consolidation of a meteorological surveillance belt in regions of high relevance for Brazilian airspace control.

The system also allows remote access via a web platform, facilitating information sharing among different institutions and expanding the operational reach of the meteorological network.

 Applications

In addition to its strategic role in airspace control, the technology has relevant applications in the civil sector. Its continuous and high-precision monitoring capability contributes to preventive actions, risk mitigation, and decision-making support in emergency situations.

The equipment can be used by Civil Defense agencies and disaster management centers, with a direct impact on protecting lives and critical infrastructure.

DMCC Hosts Appreciation Dinner for 400 Instashop Drivers at Uptown Dubai

 

 

DMCC Hosts Appreciation Dinner for 400 Instashop Drivers at Uptown Dubai

Dubai, UAE - 10 April 2026: DMCC and Uptown Dubai hosted a special appreciation event for 400 Instashop drivers at SO/ Uptown Dubai on 9 April, in recognition of their dedication and resilience in serving communities across the city.

The gathering paid tribute to the vital role Instashop drivers have played over the past month in delivering essential goods, bringing together drivers from across the UAE for an evening of appreciation and connection that underscored the human effort behind the technology powering everyday convenience.

Through its platform, Instashop connects customers with nearby supermarkets, pharmacies, pet shops, and other local retailers to make daily shopping seamless and accessible across the UAE.

Instashop has been a DMCC member company since its inception in 2015, benefiting from a dynamic business ecosystem that enables progress and growth. Founded in JLT, the company continues to be headquartered in the same district where it began and has since expanded its footprint across five countries with more than 3,000 riders and drivers operating across the region.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC, said: “Hosting this event for over 400 Instashop riders and drivers is a small gesture of our appreciation for their commitment to serving communities across Dubai and ensuring uninterrupted access to daily essentials. Founded in DMCC in 2015, Instashop has grown into one of Dubai’s most recognisable on-demand apps and online marketplaces, with a presence in five countries and over 3,000 drivers across the region. We are proud to have Instashop as both a longstanding DMCC member company and a standout success story within our thriving tech ecosystem, and we remain committed to supporting businesses that continue to drive Dubai forward.“

Nikola Cabarkapa, Chief Executive Officer of Instashop, commented on the event, saying: “At Instashop, we are proud of the people who support our customers every day. During times when communities rely even more on convenient access to everyday essentials, our delivery heroes play a vital role in connecting customers with the local stores they trust. We extend our appreciation to DMCC for hosting this event and for their continued support as part of their member ecosystem.”

-           ENDS       -

Media inquiries:

Citron Launches ‘Rise by Citron’ - Opening Its Full Infrastructure to Homegrown GCC Brands

Dubai-born brand introduces acceleration program that opens its retail stores, 50,000-customer database, warehouse, AI tools, office space, partner network, influencer relationships, distribution, and developer and marketing teams to homegrown brands across the GCC - using AI to match every brand with exactly what they need.

April, Dubai, UAE – The world is going through difficult times. Across the GCC, homegrown brands with genuine potential are struggling - not because their products aren't good enough, but because they don't have the platform to prove it.

Citron built that platform. The Dubai-born kids' lifestyle brand started in 2017 as a single lunchbox made by a mum who solved her own problem. Seven years later, Citron is in 49 countries, 1,000+ retail stores, with 1.5 million products sold, 50,000 engaged customers, warehouses, AI tools, a fully equipped office, a vetted partner network, and an international distribution network spanning 25 distributors.

Today, Citron is using everything it built to reach back.

Citron announces the launch of Rise by Citron - an AI-powered brand acceleration platform that opens the full weight of Citron's infrastructure to brands across the GCC. If you are building a homegrown brand in kids, family, lifestyle, or food & snacks, Rise by Citron invites you to apply and grow within its ecosystem.

Rise by Citron offers brands a comprehensive platform to grow and scale, providing retail space in Citron’s Dubai stores at Times Square Centre and Cityland Mall, access to a database of 50,000 engaged customers across the UAE and KSA, and in-house content creation support including photography, video, copy, and social assets. Brands benefit from customer insights, social and digital reach across 105K+ followers with 1.5M monthly views, connections to trusted influencers, PR agencies, media buyers, and brand consultants, as well as distribution testing through citron.ae and potential international network access. Additional support includes warehouse and logistics infrastructure, developer assistance for digital and e-commerce, marketing and paid ads across platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok, AI tools for demand planning and content automation, office and back-office facilities, and mentorship from the Citron founder network - all while becoming part of the Citron family.

In addition, Rise by Citron brings together a community of Rise supporters - influencers, press and media outlets, corporations, communication agencies, investors, mentors, and distributors, who are intelligently matched with the brands that can benefit most from their expertise. Powered by AI, the platform ensures every brand receives a personalized pathway through the Citron ecosystem, fostering meaningful connections and accelerating growth opportunities.

“We know what it’s like to build something from the ground, especially when the world feels uncertain. Across the GCC, there are founders doing the same - taking risks, dreaming big, and facing challenges head-on. Rise by Citron is our way of reaching back, with our warehouse, our team, our network, and every tool we’ve learned to lean on, to help others rise alongside us.”, said Sara Chemmaa, Founder of Citron.

Applications are now open for homegrown GCC brands, with a limited number of participants selected for each cohort through Citron’s selection process. 

Brands can apply at:  https://citron.ae/pages/rise-by-citron-brand-application

Rise supporters can apply at: https://citron.ae/pages/rise-by-citron-supporter-application

For more information, visit https://citron.ae/rise https://www.instagram.com/citron.hq/

سيتـروين تطلق "رايز باي سيتـروين" – مبادرة تفتح بنيتها التحتية الكاملة أمام العلامات المحلية في الخليج

العلامة التجارية التي وُلدت في دبي تطلق برنامج تسريع يمنح العلامات المحلية في الخليج العربي وصولاً فورياً إلى متاجرها، وقاعدة عملائها المكونة من 50 ألف شخص، ومستودعاتها، وأدواتها المدعومة بالذكاء الاصطناعي، ومساحاتها المكتبية، وشبكة شركائها، وعلاقاتها مع المؤثرين، وقدراتها في التوزيع والتصميم والتسويق، لتساعدهم على النمو باستخدام الذكاء الاصطناعي لتوصيل كل علامة بما تحتاجه بالضبط.

دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة – ابريل – يمر العالم بمرحلة مليئة بالتحديات. تواجه العديد من العلامات المحلية الطموحة صعوبة في الظهور، لا لأن منتجاتها ليست جيدة بما يكفي، بل لأنه لا توجد منصات كافية تمنحها فرصة حقيقية لإثبات قيمتها.

لكنّ سيتـروين بنت تلك المنصة بالفعل. العلامة التي بدأت عام 2017 بفكرة بسيطة، أم صممت علبة غداء لطفلها لحل مشكلة واجهتها، تحولت خلال سبعة أعوام فقط إلى قصة نجاح عالمية، حضور في 49  دولة، وأكثر من  1,000 متجر بيع بالتجزئة، وبيع 1.5  مليون منتج، إلى جانب  50 ألف عميل نشط، ومستودعات، وأدوات ذكاء اصطناعي، ومكاتب مجهزة بالكامل، وشبكة شركاء موثوقين، ومنظومة توزيع تغطي25  موزعاً حول العالم.

اليوم، بعد أن بنت كل هذه القوة، قررت أن تُشاركها مع غيرها.

تعلن سيتـروين عن إطلاق "رايز باي سيتـروين"، وهي منصة مدعومة بالذكاء الاصطناعي لتسريع نمو العلامات التجارية في الخليج. المنصة تفتح أبواب منظومة سيتـروين بالكامل أمام العلامات المحلية في مجالات الأطفال والعائلة ونمط الحياة والمأكولات والوجبات الخفيفة. تدعو المنصة كل من يعمل بشغف في هذه المجالات إلى الانضمام والنمو داخل منظومة سيتـروين.

تتيح "رايز باي سيتـروين" للعلامات المشاركة إمكانيات غير مسبوقة للنمو، مثل عرض منتجاتها في متاجر سيتـروين بدبي (تايمز سكوير سنتر وسيتي لاند مول)، والوصول إلى قاعدة تضم 50,000  عميل فعال في الإمارات والسعودية، ودعم متكامل لإنشاء المحتوى من تصوير وإنتاج فيديو وكتابة وتسويق رقمي. كما تستفيد العلامات من البيانات التحليلية وسلوك العملاء، ومن الوصول إلى شبكة تضم أكثر من  105 ألف متابع و1.5 مليون مشاهدة شهرية عبر المنصات الرقمية، إضافة إلى ربطها بمؤثرين موثوقين، ووكالات علاقات عامة وإعلام وإعلانات، واستشاريي علامات تجارية. تشمل المنظومة كذلك اختبار التوزيع عبر المتجر الإلكتروني citron.ae وفرص التوسع في الشبكات الدولية. أما من الناحية التشغيلية، فتوفر المنصة دعم لوجستي كامل يشمل المخازن، وخدمات التطوير البرمجي لمواقع التجارة الإلكترونية، وحملات التسويق المدفوعة عبر Meta وGoogle  و TikTok، وأدوات الذكاء الاصطناعي للتخطيط والإنتاج الآلي للمحتوى، ومساحات مكتبية وخدمات خلفية، بالإضافة إلى الإرشاد والتوجيه من شبكة رواد الأعمال المؤسسين في سيتـروين. كل ذلك ضمن منظومة عائلية واحدة تجمع المبدعين الطموحين تحت مظلة سيتـروين.

تجمع “رايز باي سيتـروين” أيضاً مجتمعاً من الداعمين يشمل المؤثرين ووسائل الإعلام والشركات والمستثمرين والموزعين والوكالات الاستشارية، حيث يعمل الذكاء الاصطناعي على مواءمة كل داعم مع العلامة التي تحتاج خبرته تحديداً، ليتيح فرص نمو حقيقية وعلاقات طويلة الأمد.

قالت سارة شماع، مؤسِسة سيتـروين: "نعرف بالضبط ما يعنيه أن تبني شيئاً من الصفر، خصوصاً في وقت مليء بعدم اليقين. في الخليج هناك مؤسسون يعيشون نفس الرحلة، يحلمون ويخاطرون ويواجهون التحديات. "رايز باي سيتـروين" هي طريقتنا لمد العون إليهم، نشاركهم مستودعاتنا، وفريقنا، وشبكتنا، وكل ما تعلمناه لننهض جميعاً سوياً."

تُفتح الآن أبواب التقديم للعلامات المحلية في الخليج، حيث سيتم اختيار عدد محدود لكل دفعة عبر عملية انتقاء تعتمد على معايير مدروسة. 

للتقديم كعلامة مشاركة:   https://citron.ae/pages/rise-by-citron-brand-application

للتقديم كداعم أو شريك في مجتمع رايز:  https://citron.ae/pages/rise-by-citron-supporter-application

لمزيد من المعلومات، تفضلوا بزيارة https://citron.ae/rise https://www.instagram.com/citron.hq/

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Seoul Museum of Art Conclude Landmark Proximities Exhibition Showcasing UAE-Based Artists in Seoul

 Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Seoul Museum of Art Conclude Landmark Proximities Exhibition Showcasing UAE-Based Artists in Seoul

Presented as part of Abu Dhabi Festival’s Abroad Programme, the exhibition welcomed more than 75,000 visitors.

The institutional collaboration culminated in launch of two joint publications on 27 March 2026, serving as a lasting archive of the exhibitions presented in Seoul and Abu Dhabi as part of this strategic partnership.

Proximities brought together more than 110 works by 47 UAE-based artists, including 33 Emirati artists, and featured six public programmes throughout its four-month run.

 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 31 March 2026: Under the honorary founding patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Founding Honorary Patron of Abu Dhabi Festival, the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), in collaboration with the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) – celebrated the success of Proximities, the first exhibition of UAE art at this scale in Korea and the largest exhibition of contemporary visual art from the UAE ever presented in East Asia. As part of Abu Dahbi Festival’s “Abroad Programme,” the exhibition was inaugurated by ADMAF and SeMA in Seoul on 15 December 2025 and ran until 29 March 2026, welcoming a total of more than 75,000 visitors.

Proximities brought together more than 110 works by 47 UAE-based artists, including 33 Emirati artists, presented at SeMA. The exhibition marked the second chapter of the three-year institutional collaboration between ADMAF and SeMA. The first instalment, Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits, co-curated by Maya El Khalil and Kyung-Hwan Yeo, was presented at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi from 16 May to 30 June 2025 and explored media-based practices from Korea spanning the 1960s to the present. Both exhibitions and the accompanying public programme attracted audiences from around the world, marking a significant milestone in cultural exchange between Korea and the UAE and deepening international engagement with the diverse facets of each country’s art scene.

Concluding this two-part institutional collaboration, two joint publications were launched in March 2026 as part of the Proximities public programme, where curators Maya El Khalil and Eunju Kim introduced the catalogues documenting the exhibitions in Seoul and Abu Dhabi. The publications serve as a physical archive of the exhibitions, offering an opportunity to reflect on the curatorial journey and the dialogue that shaped both projects. They form a lasting record of the collaboration, bringing together artists, curators and practitioners from each country writing about the other, and documenting the exchange of ideas that took place between Korea and the UAE.

Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said:  “Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the exhibition Proximities, held over more than three months from 15 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, marked a significant milestone in the historic partnership between the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA). Presented in the Korean capital, Seoul, the exhibition brought together artists from the UAE and Korea in a vibrant meeting of ideas and bonds of culture, cultivating meaningful artistic dialogue and a lasting cultural legacy. The exhibition featured 110 artworks by 47 artists from three generations, including 33 Emirati artists.”

Her Excellency continued: “The exhibition traced five decades of the emergence and evolution of contemporary Emirati art. Through its three sections, it highlighted diverse artistic perspectives reflecting a wide spectrum of ideas, experiences and creative trajectories, within contexts of exchange and dialogue, between tradition and transformation, harmony and contrast.

Emirati artists preserved the authenticity of their visions while contributing to regional and global cultural discourse, bridging a rich heritage with a forward-looking future. Their works opened new interpretations and dimensions, embodying a vision that builds culture and strengthens human connection.”

Layered Dialogues: We Are in Open Circuits is the first of the two-part publication series produced in parallel with the two exhibitions of contemporary art developed through the institutional collaboration between ADMAF and SeMA. Presenting media-based practices from Korea across more than four decades, the publication brings together 48 works by 29 artists with full-colour reproductions, installation views and detailed documentation, accompanied by essays, poetic readings and observations that speak to, and enter into dialogue with, the artworks, as well as the exhibition’s curatorial statements.

The second in this pair of companion publications, Layered Dialogues: Proximities, showcases five decades of contemporary visual art from the United Arab Emirates and the experiences of three generations of UAE-based artists, bringing them into dialogue with the Korean context. Conceived as a critical companion to the exhibition Proximities, curated by Maya El Khalil and Eunju Kim, the volume features more than 110 works by 47 artists across three generations. With contributions from UAE-based artists and Korean writers, it gathers perspectives formed through relation and difference, pairing artistic practices shaped by the UAE’s rapidly transforming social landscape with reflections from Korean voices responding from their historical and cultural vantage points.

Curator Maya El Khalil said: “Throughout this collaboration, we were driven by curiosity about what happens in moments of encounter. True exchange avoids telegraphing one scene into another and the publications also seek two-way transmission - situating UAE artistic practices in relation to Korean perspectives, and vice versa. Writers had an open-ended invitation to engage with the ideas proposed by each exhibition from their own vantage - no fixed topics or set briefs. To continue the dialogues in this experimental way - in Arabic, English and Korean - feels like the right kind of permanence.”

Curator Kyung-Hwan Yeo added: “The exhibition and its catalogue share an organic, complementary relationship, each completing the other. For those who experienced the Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits exhibition firsthand at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, I hope this catalogue serves as a vessel for cherished memories. For those who could not attend, I hope it acts as a vital source of insight, bridging the two audiences through these distinct yet connected meanings. Inspired by the Korean sentiment that 'calling one's name makes them a flower,' I believe this project has fostered a deep sense of intimacy – one where Seoul and Abu Dhabi call each other ‘Sadiq Mukhlis’ (a true and sincere friend).”

Sharing her thoughts, curator Eunju Kim said: "What we valued most in this collaboration was not simply introducing UAE contemporary art to Korea, but creating a process in which different cultural contexts could meet, be translated and be read anew. Proximities opened a new point of encounter for Korean audiences by presenting the diverse artistic practices of UAE based-artists, bringing different cultural experiences and sensibilities into dialogue. Layered Dialogues: Proximities brings together the perspectives of artists, curators, artist-curators and contributors, whose layered viewpoints are gathered within the form of the book, giving greater depth and cohesion to the context of the exhibition. Through these perspectives, readers are invited to follow different interpretive pathways. In this sense, the publication goes beyond documenting the exhibition and becomes another space where the artistic dialogue between Korea and the UAE can continue to unfold."

Through the organisation of these exhibitions in collaboration with SeMA, ADMAF reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to fostering cultural dialogue and strengthening connections between artists in the UAE and the Republic of Korea, supporting shared creativity while enhancing people-to-people ties through art and knowledge. This institutional partnership forms part of ADMAF’s broader cultural diplomacy mission, reinforcing the UAE’s soft power engagement through sustained and meaningful artistic collaboration.

 

-END-

مجموعة أبوظبي للثقافة والفنون ومتحف سيول للفنون يختتمان معرض

"روافد ورؤى" في سيول الأكبر في شرق آسيا لفناني دولة الإمارات

 

• المعرض أقيم ضمن برنامج مهرجان أبوظبي في الخارج، واستقطب أكثر من 75,000 زائر
• إطلاق إصدارين تشكيليين مشتركين نهاية مارس 2026 يوثّقان المعرضين اللذين أقيما في سيول وأبوظبي في إطار الشراكة الاستراتيجية بين الجانبين
• معرض "روافد ورؤى" قدّم أكثر من 110 أعمال فنية لـ 47 فنانا من دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، بينهم 33 فنانا إماراتيا، واستضاف ستة برامج عامة على امتداد ما يقارب الأربعة أشهر

 

أبوظبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة، 31 مارس 2026: برعاية سموّ الشيخ عبد الله بن زايد آل نهيان، نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء، وزير الخارجية، الراعي الفخري المؤسس لمهرجان أبوظبي، أعلنت مجموعة أبوظبي للثقافة والفنون، بالشراكة مع متحف سيول للفنون، اختتام فعاليات معرض "روافد ورؤى" في العاصمة الكورية سيول بعد استقطابه أكثر من 75,000 زائر. ويعد المعرض الأول والأكبر من نوعه للفنون البصرية من دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة في شرق آسيا وكوريا الجنوبية. وقد افتتح المعرض في 15 ديسمبر 2025 ضمن برنامج مهرجان أبوظبي في الخارج بتنظيم وإنتاج مشترك من المؤسستين، واستمر حتى 29 مارس 2026.

 

وضم المعرض 110 أعمال فنية لـ 47 فناناً وفنانة من دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، بينهم 33 فناناً إماراتياً، وجرى تقديم هذه الأعمال في متحف سيول للفنون في المحطة المحورية الثانية من التعاون المؤسسي بين مجموعة أبوظبي للثقافة والفنون ومتحف سيول للفنون (SeMA). أما الفصل الأول من هذا التعاون فتمثل في معرض "الوسائط المتعددة: كلنا دوائر مفتوحة" الذي استضافته المجموعة في منارة السعديات بأبوظبي بين 16 مايو و30 يونيو 2025، بإشراف القيّمتين الفنيّتين مايا الخليل وكيونغ هوان يو، وقدم قراءة موسعة للتجارب الفنية القائمة على الوسائط المتعددة في كوريا منذ ستينات القرن الماضي وحتى اليوم.

 

وخلال فترة انعقاده طوال أربعة أشهر، قدّم معرض "روافد ورؤى" ستة برامج عامة شملت جلسات حوارية وفعاليات فنية استقطبت جمهوراً من مختلف أنحاء العالم، وأسهمت في توسيع آفاق الحوار الثقافي بين كوريا ودولة الإمارات وتعزيز التفاعل الدولي مع تنوّع المشهد الفني في كلا البلدين.

 

واستكمالاً لهذا التعاون المؤسسي، تم إطلاق إصدارين تشكيليين ضمن البرنامج العام للمعرض نهاية مارس، بمشاركة القيّمين المشاركين مايا الخليل وإيونجو كيم، توثيقاً للمعرض الذي أقيم في سيول والمعرض الذي استضافته أبوظبي. ويقدّم هذان الإصداران توثيقاً متكاملاً لمسار المشروع الفني والحوار الفكري الذي رافق تطويره، كما يشكّلان مرجعاً دائماً لهذا التعاون بين المؤسستين من خلال مساهمات لفنانين وقيّمين وكتّاب من البلدين توثّق تبادل الأفكار والرؤى بين كوريا ودولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة.

 

من جهتها قالت سعادة هدى إبراهيم الخميس، مؤسس مجموعة أبوظبي للثقافة والفنون، المؤسس والمدير الفني لمهرجان أبوظبي: "برعايةٍ كريمةٍ من سُموِّ الشيخ عبد الله بن زايد، نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء، وزير الخارجية، ولأكثر من ثلاثة أشهر في الفترة من 15 ديسمبر 2025 و29 مارس 2026، مثّل معرض "روافد ورؤى" محطةً محوريةً في إطار التعاون التاريخي بين مجموعة أبوظبي للثقافة والفنون ومتحف سيول للفنون (SeMA)، وجسّد ملتقى جامعاً لفناني الإمارات وكوريا، في العاصمة سيول، ليسردوا حكاية لقاء الفكر ورباط الثقافة، ويُحدثوا حراكاً سحرياً بإرثٍ خالدٍ، حيث جمع المعرض 110 أعمال فنية لـ47 فناناً من ثلاثة أجيال، من بينهم 33 فناناً إماراتياً".

 

وأضافت سعادتها: "سلّط المعرض الضوء على خمسة عقود من نشأة وتطوّر التشكيل الإماراتي المعاصر، وأبرز بأقسامه الثلاثة رؤًى إبداعيةً عكست طيفاً واسعاً من تبايُنِ الأفكار وتعدُّدِ التجارب والمسارات، في سياقاتِ تبادُلٍ وتكامُلٍ، وتجاوُرٍ وحوار، بين الثابت والمتحوّل، والمؤتَلِف والمُختلِف، كما حافظ فنانو الإمارات من خلاله على أصالة رؤاهم، وأسهموا في إثراء السياقات الإقليمية والعالمية، بين إرثٍ عريق ومستقبلٍ متقدّم، وانفتحت أعمالُهم على أصداءَ مغايرة وأبعادٍ جديدة، بفكرٍ يبني حضارةً ويعزّز التواصل الإنساني".

 

ويحمل الإصدار الأول عنوان "حوارات متعددة: كلنا دوائر مفتوحة"، ويأتي بالتوازي مع المعرض الذي أقيم في أبوظبي ضمن التعاون المؤسسي بين مجموعة أبوظبي للثقافة والفنون ومتحف سيول للفنون. ويستعرض التجارب الفنية القائمة على الوسائط المتعددة من كوريا والممتدة لأكثر من أربعة عقود، ويضم 48 عملاً فنياً لـ 29 فنانا، مع صور ملونة للأعمال ومشاهد تركيبية وتوثيق تفصيلي لها، إضافة إلى مقالات وقراءات نقدية تتداخل في حوار نقدي مع الأعمال المعروضة، إلى جانب مقالات القيّمين الفنيين التي شكّلت الإطار الفكري للمعرض.

 

أما الإصدار الثاني، "حوارات متعددة: روافد ورؤى"، فيقدّم خمسة عقود من منجز التشكيل الإماراتي المعاصر عبر ثلاثة أجيال من الفنانين، ويأتي كمرجع نقدي مصاحب للمعرض الذي تولّت تنسيقه كل من مايا الخليل وإيونجو كيم، ويضم 110 أعمال فنية لـ 47 فناناً من الإمارات. ومن خلال مساهمات لفنانين يقيمون في دولة الإمارات وكتّاب من كوريا، يجمع الإصدار رؤى متعددة تشكّلت عبر مساحات التقارب والاختلاف، حيث تتجاور التجارب الفنية المتأثرة والتحولات الاجتماعية المتسارعة في دولة الإمارات مع قراءات يقدّمها كتّاب كوريون من منظورهم التاريخي والثقافي.

 

وقالت القيّمة الفنية مايا الخليل: "انطلق هذا التعاون من رغبتنا في فهم ما يحدث في لحظات اللقاء بين الثقافات. فالتبادل الحقيقي لا يقوم على نقل مشهد إلى آخر، بل على تفاعل متبادل بين الطرفين. وقد سعت الإصدارات إلى تقديم هذا التفاعل، عبر وضع الممارسات الفنية في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة في حوار مع الرؤى الكورية، والعكس. وأُتيحت للكتاب مساحة مفتوحة للتفاعل مع أفكار كل معرض من منظورهم الخاص، دون موضوعات محددة أو توجيهات مسبقة. ويأتي استمرار هذا الحوار بهذا الأسلوب التجريبي، وباللغات العربية والإنجليزية والكورية، ليمنحه حضورا مستمرا وطابعا راسخا".

 

وقالت القيّمة الفنية كيونغ هوان يو: "يرتبط المعرض وإصداره التشكيلي بعلاقة متكاملة، حيث يكمل كل منهما الآخر بصورة طبيعية. وبالنسبة لمن زار معرض"الوسائط المتعددة: كلّنا دوائر مفتوحة" في منارة السعديات بأبوظبي، نأمل أن يشكل الإصدار التشكيلي مساحة تستعيد تلك التجربة وتفاصيلها. أما لمن لم تتح له فرصة الحضور، فنأمل أن يقدم محتوى يتيح فهماً أعمق، ويصل بين الجمهورين عبر هذه الدلالات المتقاربة. واستلهاماً من المقولة الكورية التي ترى أن "مناداة الاسم تمنحه حضوراً"، أرى أن هذا المشروع أسهم في بناء علاقة إنسانية وثيقة، باتت فيها سيول وأبوظبي تناديان بعضهما بـال"صديق المخلص".

 

وقالت القيّمة الفنية إيونجو كيم: "ما حرصنا عليه في هذا التعاون لم يكن مجرد تقديم الفن المعاصر في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة إلى كوريا، بل بناء مسار يتيح تلاقي السياقات الثقافية المختلفة وإعادة قراءتها من زوايا جديدة. وقد أتاح معرض "روافد ورؤى" للجمهور الكوري مساحة للتعرّف على تنوّع الممارسات الفنية لفنانين مقيمين في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، ووضع تجارب ورؤى ثقافية متعددة في حوار مفتوح. ويجمع الإصدار "حوارات متعددة: روافد ورؤى" الفنانين والقيّمين والكتّاب، حيث تمتزج هذه الأصوات ضمن بنية واحدة تضيف عمقا وتماسكا إلى سياق المعرض. ومن خلال هذه الرؤى، يدعى القارئ إلى تتبّع مسارات مختلفة في الفهم والتأويل. وبهذا المعنى، لا يقتصر الإصدار على توثيق المعرض، بل يقدم مساحة إضافية يستمر فيها الحوار الفني بين كوريا ودولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة".

 

ومن خلال هذه الشراكة مع متحف سيول للفنون (SeMA)، تؤكد مجموعة أبوظبي للثقافة والفنون التزام دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة بتعزيز الحوار الثقافي وبناء جسور التواصل بين الفنانين في دولة الإمارات وجمهورية كوريا، دعماً للإبداع المشترك وتعزيزاً للروابط الإنسانية عبر الفن والمعرفة. ويأتي هذا التعاون المؤسسي في إطار رسالة الدبلوماسية الثقافية التي تضطلع بها المجموعة، بما يعزّز الحضور الإماراتي والعربي على الساحة الثقافية العالمية من خلال شراكات فنية مستدامة وتعاون إبداعي متواصل.

 

-انتهى-